Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Sen. Mark Kirk expressed his support of same-marriage in a statement on his personal blog Tuesday.
Senator Mark Kirk (R-Highland Park), is now the second Republican senator to announce his support of same-sex marriage, reports the Huffington Post. On his blog, Kirk wrote: When I climbed the Capitol steps in January, I promised myself that I would return to the Senate with an open mind and greater respect for others. Same-sex couples should have the right to civil marriage. Our time on this Earth is limited, I know that better than most. Life comes down to who you love and who loves you back-- government has no place in the middle. Kirk is the 50th senator to back gay marriage and only the second Republican senator to express his support after Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, who changed his position after his son revealed he was gay, according to…
Saturday, February 16, 2013
The Illinois state senate passed the bill on Valentine's Day; it now advances to the House.
The Illinois Senate’s 34-21 vote on Thursday to advance a bill making Illinois the 10th state to recognize same-sex marriages has been lauded by student leaders of advocacy groups at Lyons Township High School, The Doings La Grange reports. The paper spoke with seniors Abe Akande (La Grange) and Grace Gonia (Western Springs), both recipients of student-activist awards from the Illinois Safe Schools Alliance, which promotes acceptance of non-straight (LGBTQ) youth. “It’s amazing. I’m so excited,” Akande, also a leader of LT’s Prism advocacy group, told the paper. “Civil unions are good, but they still aren’t exactly the same as marriage.” “I think the more people are aware about LGBTQ issues, the more accepting people will be,” the paper …
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Cardinal Francis George releases a strongly worded letter as the State Legislature moves closer to a vote on gay marriage.
As gay marriage moves closer to a vote in the Illinois General Assembly, Cardinal Francis George has released a letter attacking the notion of same- sex marriage itself and urging Catholics to voice their objections. UPDATED: Illinois State Senate members went home on Thursday without voting the bill up or down in the final days of the veto session, although a senate committee did vote in favor of the bill to allow same-sex marraige. Supporters are hoping the bill will be passed after new lawmakers are sworn in on Jan. 9, however, it may be weeks before the bill goes before the state senate for a full vote. The marriage equality bill's failure to go before the senate for a full vote on Thursday was credited to pushback from the Catholic …
Friday, June 15, 2012
State's Attorney Anita Alvarez says she supports lawsuits that call an Illinois ban against gay marriage unconstitutional.
Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez said at a press conference yesterday afternoon that she supports lawsuits that question whether an Illinois ban on gay marriage is constitutional. Two lawsuits recently brought by Lambda Legal and The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois argue that Cook County Clerk David Orr discriminates against gay couples that wish to marry, but are not allowed marriage licenses, the Chicago Sun-Times reported yesterday. Both Orr and Alvarez said they agree and also questioned whether a ban on gay marriage in Illinois is constitutional. Orr even compared the state's ban to laws that banned couples of different races from marrying. The Chicago Tribune called it an "unprecedented turn" in the fight for …
Dan Lambert
11:32 am on Monday, January 7, 2013
Thanks for all the comments on this post, but the discussion has gotten a bit off-topic and I think it's time to close the comments section. Thanks for reading. more ›